FARINGDON & DISTRICT

[Pages:20]FARINGDON & DISTRICT

Autumn 2021



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MEETINGS CALENDAR

We are very aware that some members feel ready to enjoy the company of other members in the Corn Exchange, but others would prefer to wait awhile before returning to larger groups. So, we have rehearsed a hybrid system of being back in the Corn Exchange for those who wish to meet and having the zoom talk on the big screen and at the same time having the talk on zoom for home viewing.

It is quite difficult to find speakers who are willing to visit to give their talk in case the Covid rules change. So, we hope this system will help most members to see the talks either at home or in the Corn Exchange.

In September, when we begin Corn Exchange meetings, we will follow Government guidance and u3a advice. Hand sanitizer will be available, masks can be worn and members can socially distance.

Shela Rowan Speaker Coordinator

Thursday 9th September 2021 This month our speaker is Alison Mees and she will talk about how she has spent the last 16 years Living the African Dream, which is the title of her zoom talk. She has worked in Zambia on reservations and had the opportunity to follow her wildlife photography interest and conservation passion. She has been involved in the Serengeti Cheetah Project learning about individual cheetahs. She returned home to the UK due to the pandemic in March 2020. Her talk will include lots of her photographs especially of cheetahs, information about conservation and her work in African countries.

Thursday 14th October 2021 Blood, Gore and Victorian England is the gripping title of David Allen's zoom talk this month. He will take us on a fascinating journey through the world of plots, deadly poisons and the occasional chopped-up body, using contemporaneous accounts from newspapers and law reports. David tells one meticulously researched story which is jam-packed with factual details. The current story in is a particularly blood-curdling tale, in which he will introduce you to an eccentric, bad-tempered ex-teacher who hires a new servant...but is she too good to be true? The reviews of the talk say that he is a master in his field and the audiences were held spell-bound!

Thursday 11th November 2021. A speaker in the Corn Exchange again! Do you like a challenge? Polly Vacher MBE certainly does enjoy challenging herself and her latest surprising idea was to take her two donkeys, Wizard and Muffin on a month long, 200 mile adventure from South Oxfordshire to North Wales to raise money for the MS Society research. Polly has previously flown solo, twice around the world, in a single engine aircraft, includ-

3 ing over the North Pole and the Antarctic. She will talk about her adventures and especially the `Donkathon' which she completed in July of this year. Thursday 9th December 2021 War is a grim business, but romance doesn't come to a grinding halt.....and neither does British humour. Wartime and Romance is the title of our zoom talk by Andy Smith. A performance poet, Andy shares real-live perspectives of two world wars gleaned from family and friends over several decades. He weaves romance and humour into an entertaining, poignant presentation that stimulates a response from audiences.

OPEN DAY

Our annual Open Day will be held in the Corn Exchange on Tuesday 5th October between 10:00 and 12:00.

The event is both to attract new members and to allow existing members to learn something of Groups they are not familiar with

and which they might consider joining. Come along and have a browse round the many stands, chat with

Group Leaders and see if anything takes your fancy. If you know someone who is contemplating joining Faringdon and

District U3A, encourage them to come along to our Open Day ? they'll be made very welcome. Refreshments will be available.

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Chairman's Message

"The Summer is slowly but surely working its way into Autumn. Hips and haws are in the hedgerows and the evenings are gradually drawing in." This is how my letter began last year and it is still true today as I begin my Message for the 2021 Autumn edition. Reading back on last year, we were still awaiting the development of vaccine and travel was very limited. The passenger on the S6 was getting a very personalised service! Social distancing and wearing face coverings were part of everyday life and those who could, were holding their U3A meetings via Zoom. Gardens had been weeded to within an inch of their lives and kitchen cabinets had been thoroughly cleaned out. Then what? It was soon obvious that we would be in this for the long haul and that Covid would not be going away anytime soon, and sadly, a year on, this is still true. However, with vaccinations being rolled out very efficiently in Faringdon at the start of this year, we in U3A have now been offered our two vaccinations and are probably in line for a booster later on ? there's a jolly thought! We still carry our masks and pop them on in shops and crowded places but "going out" is gradually becoming less frightening. Hand sanitising and social distancing are part of our lives for a very good reason and hopefully as our confidence returns, we will be meeting up with friends and socialising again not least as part of our U3A community.

I get updated guidelines from the U3A Trust and the message from HQ is that we must continue to be vigilant while at the same time get going again with group activities. All aspects of person safety must be considered before anyone joins in with an activity. This is a personal responsibility and not just down to the group leaders, who will do everything they can to keep their groups safe by preparing a risk assessment. Neal has a copy of the form which he will happily supply if needed. I would like to thank all the Group Leaders for what they have been doing to keep U3A alive and active. Some have decided to step down and we will be looking for replacements, but we also have new Group Leaders stepping in. To all the group leaders, past and present, a big "Thank You".

I would like to extend our warmest thanks to Pete Stone, who is standing down from his most valued role in the kitchen. Pete was an absolute U3A stalwart, coming to meetings even when it was very challenging for him. We wish him all the very best with his move and send our very best wishes and thanks for a job well done.

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We will be trying something of an experiment at the September meeting which will be in the Corn Exchange. If you feel that you want to come back and start meeting in person our plan is to Zoom the speaker onto the screen in the Corn Exchange but if you do not feel ready to return, you will be able to join in from home as well. This month's speaker is unable to be with us in person, but is happy to do a Zoom talk. We will have all safety measures in place following the advice from U3A, the Government and our local Town Council. We have tried out the technology and it works well using WiFi at the Corn Exchange and we will be able to offer tea and cakes too! I look forward to meeting with you there again soon. I feel that, while not being perfect, this is step closer to normality.

Business at U3A continues and thanks to Zoom your Committee is still able to meet every two months. I am as always, very appreciative of their effort and support in times that have been, to say the least, challenging. We were so sorry to have to make the decision to cancel the Summer Lunch as it has been one of the highlights in August for some years now. We are so grateful to Jenny and Steve Braithwaite who welcome us to their beautiful garden and work tirelessly to make it such a wonderful afternoon, but with the rising infections following the easing of restrictions it was deemed prudent not to take any unnecessary risks. We do hope that next year might bring happier news. I am very hopeful that the Open Day will go ahead on Tuesday 5th October, but we will confirm this nearer to the time.

Please can I remind you that the following positions must be filled:

Chairman ? my 3-year tenure came to an end in April 2021 and according to U3A rules, I should have stepped down from the Committee. Someone must take over at the next AGM and this is a good chance to shadow me and learn the ropes before then.

Treasurer ? Nigel had also decided to step down this year but like your Chairman is filling the gap until someone volunteers to take over.

And also Newsletter Editor ? Geoff will step down after the Spring 2022 edition of the Newsletter.

In the meantime, remember to Learn, Laugh and Live

With Very Best Wishes

Margaret Brown chairman@.uk

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FARINGDON & DISTRICT U3A COMMITTEE 2018/19

Margaret Brown

Roger Wilkins

Chairman Secretary

01367 615 385 chairman@.uk

01793 782 498 rogatmidfield@

Neal Cotton

Groups Co-ordinator

01367 252 495 91gometz@

Liz

Membership

01367 242 626

Cunningham Secretary

membershipsecretary@.uk

Ricky

IT/Website

Cunningham Coordinator

01367 242 626 itcoordinator@.uk

Peter Foot

Thames Valley Representative

01367 358 046 p.foot47@

Rita Higazi

Tessa Timms

Peter Robinson

Shela Rowan

Alison Thomson

Nigel Wilkinson

Events and Venue Team

Programme Team

Events and Venue Team

Speakers Coordinator

Vice Chairman/Publicity

Treasurer

01367 244 494 ritahigazi@

01367 358 613 timmsrb@

01367 718 566 peterrobinsonnew@

01367 243 636 smr280652@

01367 241 204 amthomson5491@yahoo.co.uk

DEADLINE FOR WINTER 2021 NEWSLETTER

Please send news of group activities, articles, photographs, etc to the Editor: newslettereditor@.uk by Wednesday 10th November 2021

The Winter Newsletter will cover December, January and February. It will be posted to all members in early December.

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ACTIVITIES REPORTS

Meeting - Thursday 10th June "The Ecology of Earthworms" Doctor David Jones

In June we were entertained by Dr David Jones and his talk was all about earthworms. David is an entomologist specialising in soil ecology working at the Natural History Museum in London.

David began his talk by explaining that scientists have been studying earthworms for many years and Charles Darwin was the first person to do any quantitative research on this subject and we know that his findings were correct. Modern research proves that when farmers have a good supply of earthworms, then there is a 25% boost in production and David began by explaining this idea.

He told us that in the UK there were 27 species of earthworms and three ecological groups. There are those that are shallow burrowing and feed on soil called Endogeic. Those that

are deep burrowing that feed on decaying matter and soil (Anecic) and the worms that are found on the

surface which feed on decaying matter (Epigeic). David explained that very few animals can digest soil and earthworms have a very special gut which is full of microbes which help them breakdown the tiny particles. Earthworms are hermaphrodites, meaning an individual worm has both male and female reproductive organs but they still need to find a mate to reproduce.

Earthworms can be found in most habitats, grasslands, woodlands, farmlands and in gardens. However, no earthworm likes very dry soil as they will dry out and die through suffocation as they absorb oxygen through their skin which needs to be moist.

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Why are earthworms important, was the question David asked his audience. He mentioned how they are vital in maintaining the soil structure by tunnelling and burrowing, improving the health of the soil through aeration, improving drainage and bringing nutrients to the surface. An interesting fact was that in a pastural field which has been grazed by cows the weight of earthworms in that field will weigh more than all the cows in that field!

Earthworms support a lot of biodiversity by re-engineering the soil, so they are creating a lot of material that enables other animals to live there. They are also a good food source for other animals like birds, snakes, small mammals and invertebrates as they are very high in protein. David had, in the course of his work eaten earthworms. Moles, of course eat earthworms and if there is a plentiful supply, they will place the worms in their underground larder for future use, how clever!

These factors have an effect on how plants grow. David explained that

earthworms stimulate plant growth predominantly through releasing nitrogen locked in residue and soil organic matter. This is why farmers and gardeners know how important earthworms are to the profitability of their fields. The modern methods used by farmers to encourage the number of earthworms in the soil has been shown to increase crop yields. The research shows that different methods of farming management can increase the number of earthworms and this is replicated across all habitats. Deep ploughing, where the soil is turned over is very damaging to the earthworm population as they become chopped up and displaced and eaten by birds. Basically, minimum or no tillage is a better farming method, so the less that the soil is disturbed the more earthworms are noted.

Finally, David answered members' questions of which there were many. Everyone found the talk very informative and interesting and enjoyed David's engaging style of talk.

Report by Shela Rowan

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